Brother of child abuse victim ‘hopeful’ at new police probe

A brother who has campaigned for decades is a step closer his demand for a proper police probe into his sister’s death.

Russell Specterman’s sister Sarah died aged 11 months, while in Lambeth’s care, after being tied with a pyjama cord into a harness on a top bunk.

She was asphyxiated at Chevington House, 25 Warham Road, South Croydon, in 1975, when there was no one on duty to look after the young residents of the home.

Now police have confirmed they are re-examining the evidence and that a decision on whether to bring charges will be made soon. A Met spokesman said: “Officers from Operation Winter Key are in the process of ascertaining what material is available in relation to this incident.

“Once all available material has been collected, a decision will be made as to whether a criminal investigation should be launched.”

Detectives’ action was ordered after a senior officer was asked about the death while giving evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) on July 22, 2020 Detective Inspector Simon Morley from Operation Winter Key – the Met’s unit for investigating historic child abuse – was asked about the death of the 11-month-old girl in 1975.

Her brother Russell said: “I had not held out much hope of a proper investigation – I told Winter Key police about it 18 months ago.

“I reported it as a child, too. “This gives me great hope. Now the ball is rolling. I will keep the pressure on. The doors were shut while staff slept when my sister died.

“This would be justice for my baby sister.”

It has taken 45 years for even some of the facts surrounding the death aged just 11 months of Sarah Specterman who was in Lambeth council’s care. The inquest recorded an open verdict – ie that the death is suspicious, but is unable to reach any other available verdicts. There was never a police investigation or a hearing about the death.

But documents obtained by the South London Press reveal there were no night staff in the building at the time; “but there is always an officer sleeping within hearing of the nursery. On the night of October 17, [named officer] who sleeps near the nursery, was off duty but on call.”

But the details were at last aired last month at the IICSA – where town hall chiefs apologised for a string of errors in her care.